Article

2010-05-03 Afghanistan

German troops face pitched battles in Afghanistan as insurgency spreads

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Posted by 2010-05-03 08:14|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Hopefully the Germans remember the incredible ferocity of their forebears fighting in the defense. Many US and Russian soldiers, after the fact, concluded that they would really rather not fight Germans in the defensive mode again.

Posted by Anonymoose 2010-05-03 10:12|| 2010-05-03 10:12|| Front Page Top

#2 Are the Germans allowed to shoot?

Posted by Glenmore 2010-05-03 10:31|| 2010-05-03 10:31|| Front Page Top

#3 Are the Germans allowed to shoot?

only after someone 3-4 calls up the chain of command is sufficiently convinced that the incoming fire might cause more paperwork through the death of a friendly than the discharge of a weapon would. an actual killing of a hostile would likely still be prohibited without a proper round of 'mother may I'

Posted by abu do you love 2010-05-03 10:54|| 2010-05-03 10:54|| Front Page Top

#4 Hopefully the Germans remember the incredible ferocity of their forebears fighting in the defense.

About as well as the 1940 French remembered Napoleon's soldiers martial virtues.

BTW when you take a close look at German soldiers performance in 1945 their behaviour is quite unimpressive: given what the Red Army was doing to German civilians and specially women (not merely rapes but sadistic ones followed by equally sadistic murders) I for one wpuld expect better from the self-appointed best soldiers in the universe than having tens of thousands of them deserting and having to be brought back to the front at gun point. And I am speaking about the East Front not the West one.

Posted by JFM 2010-05-03 10:55|| 2010-05-03 10:55|| Front Page Top

#5 Forgot it: After the recapture of Nehmensdorf and the massive airing the German information services gave to what was found there those German soldiers trying to desert couldn't argue ignorance. They knew what would happeng to the civilians they were abandonnng to their fate.

While we are at it: the much maligned 1940 French soldiers didn't have this incentive to fight since the German Army surprised everyone by its behavior with civilians. Given the importance Hitler gives in Mein Kampf not to merely defeat France but to obtain its surrender for the deleterious effects it would have on future generations I think this (initial) good behavior was part of the plan.

Posted by JFM 2010-05-03 11:11|| 2010-05-03 11:11|| Front Page Top

#6 German troops are fighting the first pitched battles witnessed by the Bundeswehr since 1945

The Bundeswehr didn't witness anything in 1945. It was the Wehrmacht fighting back then.

Posted by Steve White 2010-05-03 11:18|| 2010-05-03 11:18|| Front Page Top

#7 Afghan intelligence sources have been screaming for some time about ISI involvement in the North (including helicopters dropping off advisors with bags full of cash). The US has officially poo-pooed it.

However, I find it believable. Especially now that non-pashtun are joining the fight. Non-Pashtun will fight for the Taliban, but only for money (lots of money). It looks like someone it throwing around alot of cash up north.

Al

Posted by Frozen Al 2010-05-03 11:22|| 2010-05-03 11:22|| Front Page Top

#8 I know lots of U.S. soldiers that wouldn't have a problem fighting Germans in the defensive mode again.

Posted by Percy Glinens2222 2010-05-03 11:27|| 2010-05-03 11:27|| Front Page Top

#9 It looks like someone is throwing around alot of cash up north

Either Arab money via the ISI or US/Western money funding the taliban just Like the Soviet days but this time not intentionally!

Posted by Paul D 2010-05-03 14:59|| 2010-05-03 14:59|| Front Page Top

#10 It looks like someone is throwing around alot of cash up north

These provinces border Tajikistan where a lot of Saudi money has gone in recent years. There was also a brutal civil war in Tadjikistan post independence. The losing islamicist elements likely fled to Afghanistan.

My guess is the 'deteriorating situation' is due to NATO forces taking a leading role in anti-insurgency ops and as a result curbing the rather more direct and salutary response of the Afghan forces.

Posted by phil_b 2010-05-03 20:56|| 2010-05-03 20:56|| Front Page Top

#11 On a tree-lined road in Khanabad, bordering the Taleban-held Chardara district, The Times found a group of armed local men. Their commander said that his force had cleared their area but after five months had yet to be paid. "The provincial governor is a liar," he said. "He sits in his chair and says he controls the province."

This is not helping. The governor is probably keeping the money.

Posted by gorb 2010-05-03 22:37|| 2010-05-03 22:37|| Front Page Top

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